City · Delaware

Delaware City, Delaware

Delaware City, city, in New Castle County, Delaware. Delaware City had 1,939 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,885 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,950 (±408). GEOID 1019730.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

1,939

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,885 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,950 ±408

Median household income

$85,395

±$12,049 (90% margin)
Delaware: $84,954

Median home value

$266,900

±$23,143 (90% margin)
Delaware: $352,000

Median gross rent

$1,511

±$213 (90% margin)
Delaware: $1,401

Where is Delaware City and what county is it in?

Delaware City is a city in New Castle County, Delaware. It covers 1.9 square miles of land, 1,013 residents per square mile in 2020.

Delaware City is in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 11 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Delaware City (marked with a dot) in New Castle County, Delaware. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Delaware City, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 1,939 people lived in Delaware City on July 1, 2025, up 3.0% since 2020, slower than Delaware (+7.1%). The 2020 Census counted 1,885 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,950 (±408).

  • July 2020→2021 +5 (1,887)
  • 2021→2022 +11 (1,898)
  • 2022→2023 +18 (1,916)
  • 2023→2024 +16 (1,932)
  • 2024→2025 +7 (1,939)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Delaware CityNew Castle CountyDelaware Change since 2015-2019
Total population 1,950 ±408 577,961 1,021,191 no clear change
Households 714 ±103 224,173 402,038 no clear change
Average household size 2.69 ±0.33 2.51 2.48 no clear change
Housing units 747 ±104 236,079 464,203 no clear change

Delaware City's population since 2000

From 1,453 in 2000 to 1,939 in 2025: up 33.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Delaware City as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 1,453
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,590
  • 2010 Census 1,695
  • 2015 (estimate) 1,827
  • 2020 Census 1,885
  • 2025 (estimate) 1,939

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Delaware City?

The median resident of Delaware City is 40.4 years old; 22.6% are under 18 and 19.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 73.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 10.7%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Delaware CityNew Castle CountyDelaware Change since 2015-2019
Median age 40.4 ±3.3 39.3 41.6 no clear change
Under 18 years 22.6% ±5.7 pts 21.2% 20.7% –
65 years and over 19.6% ±5.3 pts 17.1% 20.6% –
Male 54.5% ±5.8 pts 48.5% 48.4% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.7% ±8.4 pts 11.8% 11.0% –
White alone, not Hispanic 73.6% ±8.6 pts 52.3% 58.1% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 7.7% ±4.2 pts 24.9% 21.4% no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.9 pts 6.2% 4.3% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.2 pts 0.0% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.9 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 7.8% ±4.4 pts 4.2% 4.5% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.9 pts 0.5% 0.5% –
Born outside the United States 0.9% ±1.4 pts 12.8% 10.7% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 2.3% ±2.8 pts 17.3% 15.1% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 6.6% ±3.0 pts 5.8% 7.4% –
With a disability 18.3% ±5.0 pts 12.9% 14.1% –
No health insurance coverage 4.8% ±2.3 pts 5.9% 6.3% −5.4 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 91.6% ±4.2 pts 92.6% 91.7% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 23.8% ±11.4 pts 39.7% 35.8% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 5.4% ±3.1 pts 17.2% 15.3% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 94.2% ±3.1 pts 88.9% 89.3% –
Moved from another state in the past year 0.6% ±1.0 pts 3.8% 3.9% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Delaware City earn?

Half of Delaware City's 714 households earn less than $85,395 a year (±$12,049), against $91,166 in New Castle County and $84,954 in Delaware. In 2015-2019 it was $75,246 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Delaware CityNew Castle CountyDelaware Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $85,395 ±$12,049 $91,166 $84,954 no clear change
Mean household income $91,474 ±$9,374 $120,512 $112,616 –
Per capita income $39,091 ±$4,649 $47,777 $45,375 +$8,170
People below the poverty line 6.4% ±4.1 pts 10.1% 10.4% −9.1 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line 7.5% ±8.1 pts 13.7% 15.0% –
Households receiving SNAP 8.1% ±5.8 pts 9.8% 10.7% –
Households with a computer 93.6% ±4.3 pts 96.8% 96.2% –
Households with a broadband subscription 90.5% ±5.0 pts 93.2% 92.4% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Delaware City?

Owners occupy 73.0% of Delaware City's occupied homes and renters 27.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $266,900 by its owner (±$23,143). The median renter pays $1,511 a month including utilities, and 37.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Delaware CityNew Castle CountyDelaware Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $266,900 ±$23,143 $352,200 $352,000 +$33,437
Median gross rent $1,511 ±$213 $1,448 $1,401 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 37.6% ±17.8 pts 38.9% 40.3% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,553 ±$145 $1,882 $1,816 –
Owner-occupied homes 73.0% ±6.8 pts 69.0% 73.0% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 27.0% ±6.8 pts 31.0% 27.0% –
Housing units 747 ±104 236,079 464,203 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.9% ±1.5 pts 0.7% 0.8% –
Rental vacancy rate 2.5% ±4.1 pts 5.0% 5.0% –
Single-family detached homes 65.5% ±7.1 pts 53.0% 59.1% –
Mobile homes 13.7% ±4.8 pts 2.0% 7.0% –
Built 2020 or later 1.7% ±2.0 pts 1.3% 3.1% –
Built 2010 to 2019 2.3% ±2.4 pts 7.5% 12.3% –
Built 1939 or earlier 25.0% ±7.2 pts 10.8% 8.0% –
Households with no vehicle 7.3% ±4.2 pts 7.5% 6.2% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Delaware City building?

Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Delaware City in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 6.1 across Delaware.

  • 2025 0 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Delaware City work and get to work?

82.2% of Delaware City's workers drive alone and 12.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.5%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Delaware CityNew Castle CountyDelaware Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 66.7% ±5.6 pts 65.7% 62.1% –
Unemployment rate 7.5% ±4.2 pts 4.8% 5.1% no clear change
Drove alone to work 82.2% ±6.3 pts 68.6% 71.7% –
Carpooled 2.8% ±2.4 pts 7.3% 7.8% –
Public transportation 0.8% ±1.2 pts 2.6% 1.8% –
Walked 0.8% ±1.1 pts 2.2% 2.0% –
Worked from home 12.3% ±5.5 pts 17.6% 15.0% +7.1 pts
Mean travel time to work 28.2 min ±3.0 25.3 min 26.0 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Delaware City?

1 census tract lies mostly in Delaware City (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Delaware City, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Delaware City
Tract 164.04New Castle County3,148 $93,623 $319,60053%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Delaware City) · Census block assignment files

How does Delaware City compare with other places in Delaware?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Delaware City is the 7,803rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 25th-most populous of 57 in Delaware.

Delaware City ranks 23rd of 51 places in Delaware with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Delaware City's rank in Delaware (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate25th57
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)27th31
Residents per square mile42nd51
Median household income23rd51
Per capita income29th51
Median home value37th50
Median gross rent20th47
Poverty rate25th33
Bachelor's degree or higher38th50
Median age25th51
Owner-occupied share25th50
Work from home27th38
Travel time to work18th51

Delaware City's figures with every place in Delaware (CSV)

Every place in Delaware, sortable · Compare Delaware City with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Delaware City?

17 of the 57 figures for Delaware City on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Delaware City are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Delaware City.